Participant perceptions of an individualised physical activity anti-smoking intervention
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore a health program comprising the individual experiences, successes and setbacks of adults in an individually tailored, community-based smoking intervention and physical activity program. The program incorporated physical activity consultation (PAC) and phone support from the well-established Quit smoking cessation program, and in partnership with Melton City Council, Victoria, Australia.
Design/methodology/approach
Expert facilitators in PAC led the intervention. The program was titled “ActivePlus” and the intervention was conducted for eight weeks. Post-program facilitator guidance continued for three weeks and follow-up on participants was conducted at week 24. Five participants continued to week 24 and were interviewed. Three case descriptions were chosen as a sample to analyse using descriptive content analysis to illustrate the range of experiences, successes and setbacks reported by these individual participants.
Findings
Smoking reduction/cessation results varied among cases, but increases in PA were sustained. Participants valued the expert support of PAC facilitators, though usage and appraisal of Quit telephone smoking cessation services was mixed. The individually tailored PAC was valued by participants, who felt it also contributed to their smoking reduction/cessation goals.
Practical implications
In future, the intervention would benefit from the same ongoing support in smoking cessation as the PAC. Practitioners should consider the benefit of including PAC in smoking cessation interventions. However, such interventions should be individually tailored and include facilitation by a PAC and a smoking cessation expert.
Originality/value
Few studies have looked at completely individualised smoking cessation interventions using PAC. The current study also addresses the recommendations of previous research to investigate the use of more intense PA intervention supported by expert PAC facilitation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the Melton City Council who funded this research and Quit Victoria who provided in-kind support. The work was supported by funding from Melton City Council.
Citation
Hanlon, C., Morris, T. and O’Sullivan, G.A. (2018), "Participant perceptions of an individualised physical activity anti-smoking intervention", Health Education, Vol. 118 No. 1, pp. 82-95. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-05-2017-0028
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited